33 Duskies- It’s a Record! And for the Fish lovers – 5 Amazing Fish of Cabbage Tree Bay – 30/03/2016

Following on from my blog 2 weeks ago,’ The Big 5 of CTB’,  I’m including a look at 5 of the beautiful fish we see regularly on our swims. It’s a good one to look at with your kids or grandkids too. (And I show the kids I teach, so ‘kill 2 birds with one stone’). They are all photos I’ve taken with the trusty Olympus Tough (which has just died 🙁 )

I’m going to begin with the stunning, stripey fish who are called ‘Old Wives’!

 

Here is the lovely Anna diving down to look at a school of Old Wives. If you click on the link below aswell as info on these beautiful fish, you can also see one of Mauricio’s videos featuring OldWives, Yellowtail and a ball of Catfish.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/old-wife-enoplosus-armatus-white-1790

 

We often see a flash of bright orange and red as we swim around The Point off Manly beach. This is the Crimsonband Wrasse.

‘The Crimsonband Wrasse changes colour pattern with growth. Juveniles are a drab green to brown with white spots.

Females are red, green or grey with rows of white spots. Males have white cheeks, a red band across the body, red dorsal and anal fins.’

 

 

This tiny  fish I snapped just off the Point is a baby  Porcupine Fish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcupinefish

A running group friend who works for The Manly Daily saw my photo of the cute, little fella above on Facebook and asked me to send in a high res version. He got featured last Thursday, half a page! We usually call them Pufferfish but they are a type of Porcupine Fish. We are lucky to get a lot of the latest info on fish identification from Jane Stevenson who volunteers in the fish department of The Australian Museum. We also have 2 Marine Biologists who swim with us, both called Penny!

 

 

 

I’m featuring the Goatfish in my ‘5 Amazing Fish’ because I just love the bright colour! Goatfish are usually seen near the ocean floor. Goatfishes feed using a pair of long ‘whiskers’ protruding from their chins to rummage through the sediments in search of prey. They feed on worms,crustaceans and molluscs  Other fish shadow the active goatfish, waiting patiently for any overlooked prey. Goatfishes have the ability to rapidly change colour, and many species look pale when resting on the sand to blend with the background and become less visible to predators.

 

We often see Diamondfish over the pale rocks near Fairy Bower. They usually just ‘hang’ together in schools.  They used to be known as ‘Silver Batfish’ but Jane assures us their correct name is Diamondfish!  http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/diamondfish-in-cabbage-tree-bay

 

Now for today’s blog!

 

This is how it looked at 6.40am…

 

I missed The Drinks Express but caught these lovely ladies coming in from an early swim. Midge, Nan and Jo were excited about seeing so many sharks swimming below them in the dark. They loved seeing their pale shapes , they said!

 

Tayls and his son Cam, go for an early swim together.

 

Anna is about to release the dead Sea Dragon she found, back in his home, Cabbage Tree Bay.

 

A couple of surprise big waves as we headed in this morning!

 

But great for getting these sort of shots!

 

As you can see it was still pretty dark at 7am this morning but the water was a warm 23.7 and over 160 swimmers and 2 newbies turned up!

 

Lots of talk about ‘Duskies’ from so many swimmers today! This one shot on the way over. Plus, I’ve just had an email from Penny Farrant that she saw 33 Duskies today, it’s a record!

 

Derek insisted I get in on a photo! Here with Cathie, Henrietta, Michelle, Ed, Roz, Martin and Kerry.

 

Just see how many photos Lips sneaks in on today!

 

 

The ‘A Team’ in their new caps. JP says he’s just about got his money back so they might be giving some away soon!

 

 

7 blog tarts…

 

Joined by another 3!

 

Lesbubbs gets in on the action too!

 

 

Sparkles and I went looking for Duskies again on the way back.

 

The mission was to get a shot of Sparkles swimming with a Dusky but they are so shy!

 

 

It was easier getting a close up of her with the giant jellyfish on Sunday!

 

and the Wobbegong

Wasn’t today’s sky blending in to the ocean amazing too!

 

 

Sparkles and the Mados and Pomfred!

Join Pacific Jules Coach Sarah Anne for an hour at Shelley Beach to learn the essentials of how to breath in your freestyle stroke, and ultimately how to swim more efficiently in the open water.

If you’ve attended these workshops before, then it’s the perfect chance to brush up on your technique and work on progressing your stroke further.

 

Date: Saturday 30 April 2016 9:45-10:45AM

Cost: $25

Location: Shelly Beach

Open to everyone and all abilities welcome.

What to bring: swim suit, cap, goggles, wetsuit, water and money for a hot cuppa afterwards!

 

PINK WEDNESDAYS AT WHITEWATER RESTAURANT

From 2^nd March, each and every Wednesday will be “PINK WEDNESDAY” at WHITEWATER RESTAURANT. B&B swimmers will receive a massive 50% discount on all food items when they present their “PINK WEDNESDAY” CARD.

In order to get your “PINK WEDNESDAY” CARD, which is only available for B&B members, send an E-mail to Rebeka Zubac, Functions & Event Coordinator at Whitewater Restaurant to info@whitewaterrestaurant.com.au. Please complete the form below and copy it into your email.

SUBJECT: PINK WEDNESDAY

First Name: 

Last Name: 

E-mail: 

Mobile: 

Gender:MaleFemale

Date of Birth:12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec19011902190319041905190619071908190919101911191219131914191519161917191819191920192119221923192419251926192719281929193019311932193319341935193619371938193919401941194219431944194519461947194819491950195119521953195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016

Signing off

Lainey aka E-lainexxx